I.

It fell and about the Lammas time,
When hushandmen do win their hay;
Earl Douglas is to the English woods,
And a' with him to fetch a prey.

II.

He has chosen the Lindsays light,
With them the gallant Gordons gay;
And the Earl of Fyfe, withouten strife,
And Hugh Montgomery upon a grey.
(THE LAST LINE IS OBVIOUSLY A RECITER'S STOPGAP.)

III.

They have taken Northumberland,
And sae hae they THE NORTH SHIRE,
And the Otterdale they hae burned hale,
And set it a' into fire.

IV.

Out then spak a bonny boy;


Manifestly these copies, so far, are not independent. But now Herd's
copy begins to vary much from the English.